José Manuel Marroquín facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Manuel Marroquín
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 4th President of Colombia | |
| In office July 31, 1900 – August 7, 1904 |
|
| Preceded by | Manuel Antonio Sanclemente |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Reyes |
| 3rd Vice President of Colombia | |
| In office August 7, 1898 – July 31, 1900 |
|
| President | Manuel Antonio Sanclemente |
| Preceded by | Miguel Antonio Caro |
| Succeeded by | Ramón González Valencia |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte
August 6, 1827 Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
| Died | September 19, 1908 (aged 81) Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Matilde Osorio Ricaurte |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater | Colegio de San Bartolomé |
| Occupation | Farmer (planter), writer, educator, politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
José Manuel Marroquín Ricaurte (born August 6, 1827 – died September 19, 1908) was an important Colombian political leader. He served as the 27th President of Colombia. He was also a well-known writer, educator, and philosopher.
Contents
Early Life and Education
José Manuel Marroquín was born in Bogotá, Colombia, on August 6, 1827. He later passed away in the same city on September 19, 1908.
He began his studies at the Seminary of Bogotá. There, he focused on literature and philosophy. After that, he continued his education at the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, where he studied law.
Professional Career
Marroquín became a professor of literature and philosophy. He taught at the Colegio Mayor del Rosario, a well-known school. He later became the head, or rector, of this college.
He also helped start the Academia Colombiana de la Lengua. This is an important group that studies and protects the Spanish language in Colombia. He was chosen as its first rector. As a writer, he created many novels, poems, stories, and essays. He also wrote textbooks on grammar and language.
Political Journey
José Manuel Marroquín joined the Colombian Conservative Party. He was elected to serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate, which are parts of Colombia's government. He also held a position as the Minister of Education.
In 1898, he was elected as the Vice President of Colombia. Later, in 1900, he became the President and served until 1904.
Leading the Country
Marroquín was president of Colombia two times. His first time as acting president was on August 7, 1898. This happened because the elected president, Manuel Antonio Sanclemente, was too sick to attend his inauguration.
His second time as president began on July 31, 1900. This was after President Sanclemente was removed from office. A group of military and political leaders supported this change. They felt it was needed because of a big civil war happening at the time.
The Thousand Days War
During Marroquín's presidency, Colombia was in the middle of a terrible civil war. This war was known as the Thousand Days War. It was a fight between different political groups.
To try and stop the war, President Marroquín offered a peace deal on June 12, 1902. However, the opposing side did not accept his offer. The fighting continued and became even more intense.
After three years of many battles, the war finally ended. Three peace treaties were signed to bring peace back to the country.
- The first treaty was called "Nerlandia". It was signed on October 24, 1902. This treaty ended the fighting in the areas of Bolívar and Magdalena.
- The second treaty was the “Wisconsin” treaty. It was signed on November 12, 1902. This agreement included plans for new elections and forgiveness for political prisoners. It also returned seized property and helped with war debts.
- The third treaty was the “Chinácota” treaty. It was signed on December 3, 1902.
With these treaties, the civil war finally came to an end. The war had caused a lot of damage and sadness. Many people died, and there were huge financial losses. President Marroquín officially announced that the nation was at peace on June 1, 1903.
Panama's Independence
Soon after the civil war, another big challenge arose for Colombia. On November 3, 1903, Panamá declared its independence from Colombia. This happened with support from the United States.
The United States wanted to build a canal that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This idea for a canal through Panamá had been around for a long time. A French company had tried to build it before but failed.
President Marroquín wanted the canal to be built through Panamá, not Nicaragua. So, his government and the United States government signed a treaty in January 1903. This treaty was called “Tomás Herrán-John Hay".
The treaty said that the US would build and control the canal for 99 years. Colombia would receive money for this. However, the Colombian Congress did not approve the treaty. Soon after, Panamá declared its independence. The United States quickly recognized Panamá as an independent country.
See also
In Spanish: José Manuel Marroquín para niños
